Comoros: Investing
Current FDI inflows to Comoros remain marginal despite tax concessions and benefits offered by the government, which is resolutely trying to improve the business climate and institutional stability. As per the World Bank, FDI inflows averaged 0.6% of GDP in 2011–2020. According to UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2023, FDI inflows amounted to only USD 4 million in 2022, in line with the trend recorded in recent years. The FDI stock remains low and was estimated at USD 145 million at the end of the same period, around 11.8% of the country’s GDP. Foreign investment in Comoros is limited and mainly concentrated in a few sectors, including tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and energy. In terms of countries investing in Comoros, France has historically been the largest investor, followed by China and India. In the last decade, the Chinese invested millions in the country, paving roads, and building new schools, mosques, markets, government buildings (including the parliament building), a new airport, a centre to facilitate tourism, and a sports stadium. Recent FDI projects in Comoros have been mainly in the tourism sector, with the government trying to promote the country as a tourist destination.
The Investment Code of Comoros does not provide an explicit definition of FDI, and the regulatory environment still imposes significant burdens on investors. However, the government is committed to reforming the investment code and establishing a single point of contact for setting up a company. Comoros has a range of natural resources, including fisheries, agriculture, and minerals, which can offer investment opportunities for foreign investors; moreover, the archipelago has a relatively low cost of labor compared to other countries. Comoros is a member of several regional trade agreements, which can provide foreign investors with access to markets in other countries in the region. Nevertheless, the poor quality of its infrastructure, the limited size of its domestic market, geographical isolation, frequent water and electricity shortages, limited natural resources, and an unskilled workforce are all factors that also hinder FDI. Additionally, property rights are not well protected, and contracts are weakly enforced. The judicial system, based on both Sharia (Islamic) law and the French legal code, is weak and subject to political influence. Corruption is reported at all levels of government and is exacerbated by internal political disputes and competition for resources among the administrations of the three islands. The National Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA) is the government agency in charge of investment promotion. Its main tasks are to facilitate and monitor these investments, and to ensure the link between the government and international investors interested in the Comoros. Comoros ranks 8th among the 180 economies on the 2023 Corruption Perception Index and 132nd out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.
| Comoros | Sub-Saharan Africa | United States | Germany | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index of Transaction Transparency* | 7.0 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| Index of Manager’s Responsibility** | 1.0 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
| Index of Shareholders’ Power*** | 5.0 | 5.5 | 9.0 | 5.0 |
Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.
Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.
| Foreign Direct Investment | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FDI Inward Flow (million USD) | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| FDI Stock (million USD) | 137.6 | 141.6 | 145.5 |
| Number of Greenfield Investments* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data
Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.
| Personal income tax | Progressive rate from 0% to 30% |
| Less or equal to KMF 150,000 | 0% |
| KMF 150,001 - 500,000 | 5% |
| KMF 500,001 - 1,000,000 | 10% |
| KMF 1,000,001 - 1,500,000 | 15% |
| KMF 1,000,501 - 2,500,000 | 20% |
| KMF 2,500,001 - 3,500,000 | 25% |
| Over KMF 3,500,000 | 30% |
| Comoros | Sub-Saharan Africa | United States | Germany | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Payments of Taxes per Year | 33.0 | 36.6 | 10.6 | 9.0 |
| Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) | 100.0 | 284.8 | 175.0 | 218.0 |
| Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) | 219.6 | 47.3 | 36.6 | 48.8 |
Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.
| Setting Up a Company | Comoros | Sub-Saharan Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Procedures (number) | 9.00 | 7.51 |
| Time (days) | 16.00 | 21.30 |
Source: Doing Business.
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Latest Update: May 2024
